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Anxiety

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Chris_B Forums etiquette: give support to receive support
  • replies: 0

Hi everyone, particularly any new members who may be reading. From time to time, we get contacted by members who are unhappy that they haven’t received a lot of replies to their posts. Our community champions work very hard to make sure that all newb... View more

Hi everyone, particularly any new members who may be reading. From time to time, we get contacted by members who are unhappy that they haven’t received a lot of replies to their posts. Our community champions work very hard to make sure that all newbies are welcomed when they first post, and we understand that it’s a big step to post for the first time on a forum like this, especially if you aren’t feeling great. It’s important to remember, though, that these forums are a community of real people, just like you, not a one-on-one support environment like going to see your psychologist. To get the best out of being here, one of the best tips we can offer is give support to receive support. Being a good community member means: participating in different threads (not just your own), replying to people who have taken the time to reply to you (even if it’s just to say thank you), and... posting words of emotional support and encouragement when you see others who are hurting and reaching out. You don’t have to feel obliged to solve the problems of others: that’s not what we’re here for. But you can offer empathy and what you’ve learned from your own life experiences, even if it’s just a line or two, eg. “I don't know what to say, but I want to give you my support and tell you I care about what is happening to you and hope life will get better soon.” Try to develop an interest in the journeys of others here on the forums. You may be surprised at how good being an active, caring member here can make you feel. For those of you who have had good experiences giving support here on the forums, please post in this thread here and let us know how it has helped you on your journey.

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Andy999 Anxiety/panic attacks
  • replies: 3

so lately I’ve been experiencing a lot of weird kind of feelings or sensations, usually once or twice a day. It’s usually like a dizziness feeling, it feels like I can’t really think straight and things around me become really overwhelming, I feel ex... View more

so lately I’ve been experiencing a lot of weird kind of feelings or sensations, usually once or twice a day. It’s usually like a dizziness feeling, it feels like I can’t really think straight and things around me become really overwhelming, I feel extremely flustered and uncomfortable, sometimes it can feel kind of like I’m detached? If that makes any sense. Anyway It usually comes from no where! I don’t recall being overly anxious before it starts but yeh I don’t know, I don’t freak out anymore because it happens so often but it’s really impacting my quality of life and can be so unbearable. So today I get home after one of those little moment and I’m Feeling abit clearer and a couple hours later I noticed I was feeling a little shallow breathed, I had this butterfly feeling in my stomach and like this massive adrenaline boost, became really restless and those other symptoms I explained before come to, racing thoughts aswell. Tried not to overreact and keep my calm and take some deep breathes, was really hard to do I decided to try meditate to calm down, This may have helped a little but not heaps, I called my mum after to have a chat about it, Havnt felt anything like that in a while, was so intense! I’m assuming it was some sort of panic attack but this kind of came from no where. After a bit it subsided abit and decided to get out of the house and see a couple friends. (Such a hard decision to make) we went to get dinner and hung out abit and generally I was fine and had a good night, every now and then I was reminded by what happened before and if I felt any bit of energy I’d think oh no is it coming again, but yeh was a decent night. I got home and felt pretty relaxed jumped into bed and was okay but after a while that feeling kind of kicked in again I took some deep breaths and tried to slow down, it wasn’t as intense but was making it hard for me to get to sleep, with this come all those racing thoughts and worst case scenarios but I try to play them all down and not overthink them, but yeh it was really uncomfortable, I ended up jumping out of bed, feeling full of adrenaline. It was probably in my head this time but I felt so shaken up by it I’m so on guard now.

Rigour Health anxiety - how to deal with the fear
  • replies: 8

Hi BB, I've recently started having significant anxiety around my health. Nothing specific, but the minute i notice something out of order be i have a panic response, be it tight chest, heart racing, or most recent and really stupid to say out loud b... View more

Hi BB, I've recently started having significant anxiety around my health. Nothing specific, but the minute i notice something out of order be i have a panic response, be it tight chest, heart racing, or most recent and really stupid to say out loud but "my right arm feels funny". I have had 2 sessions with a psychologist and she helped me identify the symptoms of a panic attack as my belief of what they were was much more dramatic than the reality. Unfortunately her solution was just that you have to let it happen and try not to be afraid. She explained the symptoms as a biological response to perceived fear, and most of them caused by poor breathing. While this was helpful i was not really gelling on a person to person level with her, so I have had my first session with someone else recommended by a colleague who I managed to connect with and can hopefully see me long term (she has to check her availability). She was the first person to draw a possible connection between my health anxiety and deeper underlying issues which I believe to be true - it's no coincidence this all started after a very lonely Christmas amongst all my very happy and successful family. One thing I know - there is no quick fix for this, it's going to take time, effort and commitment on my part. I want to get better, and I will not give up. But there are times, like what happened last night and this morning with my stupid arm thing, where I just get so afraid. Rationally i know the symptoms I am noticing are not serious, they are amplified because I am hyper aware and then hyper focused, and ultimately also just trigger my anxiety symptoms. My rational brain tries so hard to tell me this, but sometimes deep down I just cannot shake the terrible fear. Not of dying, or pain, or anything real, I think it's just the fear that I am out of control, and don't know what is happening. This turned a bit rambling, but I was wondering if anyone here has had similar experiences with health anxiety. Was there any trick, or mental game, or just anything you found success with in the moment to help shake that fear and get your rational mind to win through? Other than crying in a corner for 20 minutes which I am super good at but probably not the best for my day to day work life

Nyny94 OCD stopping me
  • replies: 4

My OCD is suddenly stopping me from doing things I never even thought would be an issue before . I've recently organized with my Dr for professional psychiatric help , but lately my OCD/anxiety is out of control. Lately I can't even do something simp... View more

My OCD is suddenly stopping me from doing things I never even thought would be an issue before . I've recently organized with my Dr for professional psychiatric help , but lately my OCD/anxiety is out of control. Lately I can't even do something simple like get my eyebrows waxed because I'm worried I'll get some kind of disease or they aren't going to be clean enough, it's nothing to do with the places around me as I have no problem with other ethnicities I just get scared that the hygiene standards may not be good, or that I'll contract some kind of blood borne disease. Looking up internet horror stories doesn't help. I can't seem to get a handle on my OCD and it's stopping me doing my normal things

StartOver Study anxiety for mature age student
  • replies: 2

Hi there, I am 42 years of age and I have always had problems with anxiety. This year I decided I needed to leave my employer of 22 years (finance industry) and go after something that feels more "me". I had this amazing plan to start over and study ... View more

Hi there, I am 42 years of age and I have always had problems with anxiety. This year I decided I needed to leave my employer of 22 years (finance industry) and go after something that feels more "me". I had this amazing plan to start over and study exercise science and rid myself of the job that was never "the real me". However the anxiety is crippling me so much I am on the verge of forgetting the plan after only 5 weeks. I have 2 kids, on stress leave from the job I am desperate to leave and the pressure of dropping income for happiness is running circles in my head. I cant stop crying, I feel trapped and helpless. The thought of part time study over 6 years is causing me pain as I cant be a train wreck every day. I tried meds but they made the anxiety worse. I really need to find something to stop the panic and thoughts that circle my head. I need to start over and I want to create the new me......but is it worth the stress and my kids saying "you always seem sad Mummy". ? I know if I have a sound mind I can make rational decisions. I want to stay on my path of study and the new me but the stress is overwhelming me.

happy_one social anxiety
  • replies: 4

Hi, im completely new to this but I would love some advice on how to cope with social anxiety. My partner cops it the most and I’m sick of doing that it’s putting a huge strain on our relationship. It happens when he goes away and then I go out with ... View more

Hi, im completely new to this but I would love some advice on how to cope with social anxiety. My partner cops it the most and I’m sick of doing that it’s putting a huge strain on our relationship. It happens when he goes away and then I go out with some of his friends girlfriends and I try to get along with them but it feels like they aren’t interested in me or I’m putting more effort in and not getting much in return and I get really anxious about this as I feel it’s getting worse and it makes me not want to go out. I want to stop burdening this on my partner and find some coping mechanisms when he isn’t around to help me get through it’s

Ember12 Dating with Anxiety
  • replies: 2

I recently started seeing someone and they matched my energy. Lately the energy has dropped but they are still talking to me. I know they are busy with other things but the last couple of days I have convinced myself that this person is bored of me, ... View more

I recently started seeing someone and they matched my energy. Lately the energy has dropped but they are still talking to me. I know they are busy with other things but the last couple of days I have convinced myself that this person is bored of me, And doesn't feel the same as they did . I worry I was too much or they find me boring or have gotten sick of me. I really like this person and other than not talking as much there aren't any signs they aren't interested, But I can't eat, can't sleep, can't stop thinking about it or going over old messages where they seemed more enthusiastic about seeing me. I have worked so hard on building my life to where I am happy and I accepted being single, Then this person came along and dating seems to be a trigger as in the past I am always ghosted or made to feel not worth dating so I now panic when I get to a point in dating and it feels horrendous waiting for a reply or text that will never come, And not being able to do anything about it. Has anyone had this feeling or know any tips or tricks that helped calm then and let them go about daily things without worrying so much?

Olijrand Panic/Anxiety Attack?
  • replies: 1

Hello, I wanted to see whether the symptoms that I've experienced especially the yesterday at work would be considered a panic attack. I have had anxiety in varying levels all of my life, but I do have good times and seem so have gone quite well late... View more

Hello, I wanted to see whether the symptoms that I've experienced especially the yesterday at work would be considered a panic attack. I have had anxiety in varying levels all of my life, but I do have good times and seem so have gone quite well lately. In fact, most areas of my life are going very well and happy at the moment. I have a bullying boss who I mostly can deal with by just getting the job done and ignoring her nastiness. I'm actually not the main one under attack, but I do tend to over think remarks and exclusions. Yesterday at work I felt nauseous, was physically sick, felt my heart rate go very rapid and felt like the room was closing in on me. I work in an open plan office, so not a small room. I had to go home. I texted my boss to let her know as she was in a meeting but she never did reply to me. I'm now thinking that was a passive aggressive move, but maybe I'm overthinking. I got home and took my blood pressure and that was raised. I felt exhausted and my stomach was upset. I had to go to bed for a while and took ages to feel calm again. I'm wondering if this was a panic attack? I'm seeing a doctor later today and I'm not going to work today. Hopefully I get this under control because I do need to work. Any advice would be most welcome.

MacaroniNoodles Not getting the help I need
  • replies: 1

Hey all, I have diagnosed general, social and performance anxiety... I have told a few people in my life and hoped for support in response, yet I feel as though I am getting them opposite. I have people telling me that "everyone has it" therefore inv... View more

Hey all, I have diagnosed general, social and performance anxiety... I have told a few people in my life and hoped for support in response, yet I feel as though I am getting them opposite. I have people telling me that "everyone has it" therefore invalidating my calls for help in times where I need it most. I had my second full blown public anxiety attack in class the other day with no one who was willing to check up on me afterwards. It sounds petty, selfish and stupid, but I feel like people who say they have a mental illness just because they got "nervous one day" take away the support and validation of those (like me) who have a genuine mental illness.

Tkmh2000 Anxiety triggering other problems - Am I alone?
  • replies: 2

I don't experience anxiety every day, or even 'regularly', like I know others do. I have particular triggers. When they are set off however, my anxiety is debilitating and feels like a tsunami drowning every aspect of my life. One of my triggers is e... View more

I don't experience anxiety every day, or even 'regularly', like I know others do. I have particular triggers. When they are set off however, my anxiety is debilitating and feels like a tsunami drowning every aspect of my life. One of my triggers is entering into a test, project, new role etc, and feeling like I am not 100% equipped, whether that be with knowledge or specific skill sets or the right resources. During my HSC, my anxiety was terrible because I didn't study properly for the tests and thus didn't feel equipped with the right knowledge. I took medication then that virtually made me a zombie - I can scarcely recall anything from that period I was THAT out of it. Now, I am entering into a new role at work while taking on part time study. I have had a total of 5 months experience in this particular industry and the role feels beyond what I am capable of. My anxiety sparked since being offered the role and then taking it. It has magnified other issues in my life that I push aside, like trust and commitment issues, self esteem issues etc. I had bulimia about a year and a half ago, and then some years earlier in high school. I generally have a healthy mindset regarding body image and food now but what I have found is that my anxiety triggers bulimic tendencies in me. Rather than a self-image problem, vomiting seems to make me feel like I have some control in my life. Beyond that, it also serves as a distraction to what I am really stressing about. Of course, you can only vomit out what you've eaten which has sometimes led to me trying to vomit nothing, putting stress on my body. Deep down, I know that I can do this role and uni at the same time. I understand the job description and I am normally very extroverted, bubbly and conversational. I know I made it through all of these other times in my life when I felt entirely anxious and depressed. I just find that sometimes my anxiety is SO powerful and so hard to defeat. Does therapy really help? I continue to tell myself I will reach out to a professional but I never pull through. I've found a local psychologist that I think would be nice. I want the quick relief of medication but I don't want to be dependent on any drug or lose sight of who I am - that outgoing, happy girl. I think what would help is knowing someone has experienced something like this and they've gotten help or gotten through it. I feel I haven't told anyone what I am going through and so don't have anyone to relate to.

Pineapplepip Anxiety over job hunting
  • replies: 1

I’ve been lucky in the past that jobs have come to me, so i haven’t had to deal with anxiety over job hunting (just anxiety in the rest of my life).I’ve been with my current company for 5.5 years and I’ve lost all my career self esteem during that ti... View more

I’ve been lucky in the past that jobs have come to me, so i haven’t had to deal with anxiety over job hunting (just anxiety in the rest of my life).I’ve been with my current company for 5.5 years and I’ve lost all my career self esteem during that time. I want to find something new but don’t feel like any other company or industry would want me. it comes at a time where I’m quite vulnerable, I just got my depression somewhat under control but now my anxiety is skyrocketing. Dont know what I’m asking, I’m just a bit lost